May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[MandyGirl]

Val - Has there been any interest in DIS lanyards? We had them on the WBTA, and they were distributed at the embarkation day meet-and-greet. It definitely helped recognizing one another onboard... especially for our spouses who don't do the message boards at all but could meet others. I think they cost $5-7 each, people sent a paypal to the coordinator, and then they were ordered as one order.

 

[valbob89]

Val - Has there been any interest in DIS lanyards? We had them on the WBTA, and they were distributed at the embarkation day meet-and-greet. It definitely helped recognizing one another onboard... especially for our spouses who don't do the message boards at all but could meet others. I think they cost $5-7 each, people sent a paypal to the coordinator, and then they were ordered as one order.

I'll add that. Another option to everyone paying for their own is what we did on a number of cruises, Erik and Jason organized a lanyard give away and people donated money to pay for the lanyards. This was their FE gift. However we do it, do you want to take on coordinating it or the Meet and Greet?

 

[MandyGirl]

I'll add that. Another option to everyone paying for their own is what we did on a number of cruises, Erik and Jason organized a lanyard give away and people donated money to pay for the lanyards. This was their FE gift. However we do it, do you want to take on coordinating it or the Meet and Greet?

I can do that -- lanyards would be paid and ordered well in advance of the cruise, I'm already in Texas so no big deal to bring them to Galveston. We sent money as a "gift" to the coordinator via paypal prior to the order date, and only those who sent money were ordered lanyards. I think doing it as a "gift" in paypal avoided the 3% fee. I'm not sure how the give-away works though --- we each purchased our own because many people did lanyards and FE, or some didn't, so lanyards went to those who purchased. I still need to research lanyard companies, pricing, etc. but we have time. But I don't mind taking lanyards on.

Meet-and-Greet was like 3:00 on embarkation day where lanyards were distributed. Would you also need to distribute shirts as well, or are they shipped directly to purchasers?

 

[MandyGirl]

hmm... or maybe it was "gifting" on the lanyards now that I think about it -- a suggested contribution. I will ask Noel because she coordinated it for our WBTA. I'll check into it.

 

[MandyGirl]

Sent Noel a question to ask. Looking at prices, that must have been what we did - made a donation so everyone could get a lanyard. Plus the plastic name badge holder, and Noel/John made customized inserts showing DIS name and real name. The whole package deal.

 

[padalyn]

Val - Has there been any interest in DIS lanyards? We had them on the WBTA, and they were distributed at the embarkation day meet-and-greet. It definitely helped recognizing one another onboard... especially for our spouses who don't do the message boards at all but could meet others. I think they cost $5-7 each, people sent a paypal to the coordinator, and then they were ordered as one order.

I'll add that. Another option to everyone paying for their own is what we did on a number of cruises, Erik and Jason organized a lanyard give away and people donated money to pay for the lanyards. This was their FE gift. However we do it, do you want to take on coordinating it or the Meet and Greet?

Be careful about what you say regarding the contributions for the lanyards [on the Dis]. I was helping a non dis member who was doing lanyards for all the NYC cruises, and almost got banned because of it...he was asking for contributions to defray the overhead. It seems there are policies about "selling" ANYTHING on the dis - take this discussion over to FB so folks won't get in trouble...

In the past - there have been lanyard teams these are the people who create, pay for and distribute the lanyards. The team members take on the cost and do NOT ask for donations from each receipient. This way they remain a gift within the Dis guidelines. This is how Erik and Jason handled it - I was on the lanyard team and my contribution was not that large as they had a lot of people on the team. They made almost 500 lanyards! (maybe more...I am not sure)

Another idea is the jelly bracelets - I had 300 made (all at my own cost as my FE gifts) for the Repo and first Alaska cruise...they were very well received. I have a collection of each and really like the looks folks give my carryon luggage when they see the bracelets and luggage tags all hanging off of it!

Cayla

 

[padalyn]

is Funchal a new port? I don't see any information about excursions on the DCL site...I wonder if we will be there for the first time?

Also, has anyone asked who the captain will be for the crossing?

 

[MandyGirl]

take this discussion over to FB so folks won't get in trouble...

Done. Thanks!! By golly we wouldn't want to get in trouble doing something fun to help people out. (Wow!)

is Funchal a new port? I don't see any information about excursions on the DCL site...I wonder if we will be there for the first time?

Also, has anyone asked who the captain will be for the crossing?

Funchal is actually the capital city of Madeira. It's essentially the same. Most of us just call it Madeira.

 

[NancyIL]

is Funchal a new port? I don't see any information about excursions on the DCL site...I wonder if we will be there for the first time?

It's the same port the Transatlantics have been going to for awhile - although I've never been there. DCL stopped at Tenerife in the Canary Islands on one Transatlantic. Some ships stop at Ponta Delgada, Azores. DCL - you need to change things up a bit!

 

[GoofyNewfie]

The link for the Tasting poll doesn't seem to be working. For me at least. I'd guess that it's the "..." in the middle.

 

[tlynk]

We plan on going to Disneyland Paris for 2-3 days. We'll also do 1 day site seeing in Paris then hopefully going to London for a couple of days before flying out. The plans aren't set in stone yet, but this is kind of what we are thinking.

That sounds very similar to what we are thinking about doing? I'm hoping I can take 3 weeks off of work though.

 

[LySand]

Val - Has there been any interest in DIS lanyards? We had them on the WBTA, and they were distributed at the embarkation day meet-and-greet. It definitely helped recognizing one another onboard... especially for our spouses who don't do the message boards at all but could meet others. I think they cost $5-7 each, people sent a paypal to the coordinator, and then they were ordered as one order.

Rubber wrist bands - I was on the Magic in October and someone there ordered rubber wrist bands in bright green for our dismeet. They were easy to spot and I wore mine all of the time (swimming, rainforest, etc). They cost about $1 or less. They were printed with disney font and had our sailing date. They are less bulky than lanyards and cheaper too. And they came in kid sizes. If anyone wants to do that I could look into it more.

Oops posted too soon. I see there is more info about the lanyards. Sorry to butt-in with the wrist bands but I really really liked how they identified us dispeople.

 

[LySand]

Yay!!! Another Ontarioan!!!
Where exactly are you from? We should get together before hand so we'll have a "pal" on the boat as I am technically gonna be pretty single.... as the kids will be mainly living in the kids clubs!
We're actually in Etobicoke. Loks like we'll fly out of Buffalo on the 17th... and get a hotel the night before... you are more than welcome to join us if you want some company
Suzanne

SHIRT - please add my name to the shirt list

Suzanne - I would love to get together. Thanks for the invite. I thought you would fly out of Toronto as you live so close but I guess Buffalo would be quite a bit cheaper. I am flying on the 17th too and then to Ireland from Barcelona.
Lynn

 

[kaseyC]

It's the same port the Transatlantics have been going to for awhile - although I've never been there. DCL stopped at Tenerife in the Canary Islands on one Transatlantic. Some ships stop at Ponta Delgada, Azores. DCL - you need to change things up a bit!

On our 2007 WBTA, we stopped at Tenerife (gorgeous) and Cadiz, Spain. My DD and I took a full day excursion to Seville during the Cadiz port stop. I've never been to Madeira, though.

 

[MandyGirl]

Rubber wrist bands - I was on the Magic in October and someone there ordered rubber wrist bands in bright green for our dismeet. They were easy to spot and I wore mine all of the time (swimming, rainforest, etc). They cost about $1 or less. They were printed with disney font and had our sailing date. They are less bulky than lanyards and cheaper too. And they came in kid sizes. If anyone wants to do that I could look into it more.

Cheaper and less bulky is good too! As first time DCL cruisers, it was nice to receive one to keep our KTTW card in and any other small essential if not having pockets. But do we receive a 'free' lanyard from DCL as subsequent cruisers? I think I remember something about that (?)

 

[bobbiwoz]

SHIRT - please add my name to the shirt list
...
Lynn

Is there a shirt list? DH & I would like to be on it!

We've booked our flights to Houston, and have gotten information regarding tours offered by the Marriott in Barcelona. It looks like we will spend 2 nights there post cruise.

We tried to find reasonable one way car rentals to Galveston, but couldn't so as of now, we're renting a car for a day at the airport, when we get there, and will be taking Disney's transfer to port. We'll do some sightseeing around Houston the day before the cruise!

Bobbi

 

[binkytell]

Im not keen on wrist bands, just a personal thing, I prefer the lanyards as you could all keep your own key card inside, and it was easy to identify dis people as there dis name was clearly printed on them.

 

[Seraphine]

Im not keen on wrist bands, just a personal thing, I prefer the lanyards as you could all keep your own key card inside, and it was easy to identify dis people as there dis name was clearly printed on them. ��

Bands would be wasted on us as we just wouldn't wear them��

We're the same - I much prefer the lanyards so you can tuck your card in them. I'm not a wristband fan (don't like rubber!)

I don't have a colour printer, otherwise I'd take it on. Still trying to decide what activity to organise!

 

[binkytell]

Come on dawn get a move on lol , candy swap and secret mickey seem quite simple options, no dealing with dcl direct that way haha.

I'm willing to take on another task but just waiting first to give everyone else a chance of volunteering !!

We're the same - I much prefer the lanyards so you can tuck your card in them. I'm not a wristband fan (don't like rubber!)

I don't have a colour printer, otherwise I'd take it on. Still trying to decide what activity to organise!

 

[MandyGirl]

Even if the DIS group doesn't do lanyards, I will still get some made I think. Curt HATES lanyards, but wore his daily - he actually thanked me for getting him one after the cruise!! Mine was essentially my "wallet" since my shorts or swimsuits didn't have pockets (why do boys get to wear shorts as swimsuits with pockets??) It came in sooo handy and was really good for identifying other DIS members. We received a wrist band as a FE gift, but never put it on. I have come across some really nice ones with woven lettering versus screen-printing type lettering that we had on WBTA, plus slightly thicker and better quality. Lots of options out there. I just can't foot an $800 order on my own like they had on WBTA - would definitely need a team to contribute and Noel said we had 40 of us donating $20 each that covered everyone on rollcall. Oh - and printing of the nametags - any printing last year I did I took to FedEx/Kinkos so it was better quality printing than I could do at home - wasn't too badly priced.

I just need to remember to bring jewelry this time for formal nights!!

Edited to add:
Pricing -- now I recall why I thought they were $5-7 each... a group of us purchased them as a "team" to "gift" them to ALL DIS members. I essentially paid $20 for our four lanyards... when essentially I was contributing to a bucket that purchased more of them (as opposed to $20 divided by four lanyards equaling $5 each). The ones I have found that are 3/4 inch thick, woven, with clip and badge holder (clear plastic) are just at $2 each including shipping for the minimum amount to order. Hope that helps explain why I thought they were $5-7 each as stated earlier -- because those of us who actually contributed money were paying for those who contributed zero dollars.